Random thoughts from a few cantankerous American physicians. All contributors are board certified. Various specialties are represented here. I do not know where this will lead but hope it will at least be an enjoyable read. All of the names mentioned in this blog are pseudonyms, the ages have been changed, and in half the cases the gender as well. All photographs are published with patient consent or are digitally altered to preserve anonymity. Trust us, we're doctors.

Your ad here...

Contact us for rates.

Sponsored Sites

Friday, March 23, 2007

Yes, I am a pathologist - board certified in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology. I'm one of those guys who sits in the sub-basement, next to the morgue, in a windowless office and gets aroused by a case of ulcerating cloacagenic carcinoma (A.K.A. ass cancer). Most medical students are repulsed by pathology - and for good reason: opening a 12 pound necrotic ovarian mass that leaks onto your pants, well, sucks. I speak from experience.

Why do I do this? I hate patients. More accurately, I hate dealing with patients. They are ungrateful and rude; they want your service for free and will sue if their hangnail doesn't heal overnight. Of course, I'm exaggerating - I liked some patients - especially the guys in the VA (Vet speaking to a day 1 medical student: "sure Doc, you can practice a lumbar puncture on me"). I actually left a surgical residency because I hated patients so much and switched to a speciality where I don't have to talk to anyone. I don't know how the clinical docs do it, but I'm glad someone can stand it.

3 comments:

When I went back to the hospital with cookies for the pathologist that found my cancer, everyone looked at me like I had three heads. Apparently most patients don't really even know the pathologist is there at all (I guess that may be how you like it?)

Anyway, sometimes I am not crazy about people either, so I can see where you are coming from.